AUSTIN, TX – Today, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced Senate committee assignments for the 85th Legislative Session. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa will serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and on the Senate Transportation Committee. He will continue his appointments to the Senate Committees on Natural Resources and Economic Development, and Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs. He also continues to serve on the Sunset Advisory Commission.

Senator Hinojosa’s continued appointment as Vice Chair of Senate Finance and his new appointment to the Transportation Committee secures his influential leadership position and his significant impact on the state budget-writing process that will benefit our South Texas region.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I am honored to serve as Vice Chair of Senate Finance and that Lt. Governor Patrick has entrusted me with these important responsibilities. I am also looking forward to serving on the Transportation Committee, as transportation is the lifeblood of our economy.

South Texas is increasingly playing a larger role in shaping our state’s future and I am committed to protecting funds for our local communities. There is no question that this session will be challenging as state revenues are much lower than in past years. However, we must fund education and essential healthcare services, invest in our youth and workforce through education and skills training, create more jobs, and invest in the infrastructure we need for future success.

Through these appointments I am able to put South Texas at the forefront of critical discussions and negotiations that will take place this session. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to bring forth viable solutions that will benefit our Texas families.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development; Transportation; Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

AUSTIN, TX – Today, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa filed six senate bills on the first day of the 85th Texas Legislature pre-filing period. Senator Hinojosa’s early round of bills focus on veterans, public health and safety, civil liberties, criminal justice, and fiscal accountability. The 85th Texas Legislature will convene January 10, 2017.

Senator Hinojosa issued a statement on each of the six bills pre-filed today:

1. Senate Bill 154 – Relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of a career and technical education workforce specialist pilot program.

As the demand increases for middle-skilled jobs that require Career Technical Education (CTE), our community colleges and high schools fill a critical role in the effort to prepare students with the work skills they need to compete. SB 154 would establish a CTE workforce specialist pilot program at the Texas Workforce Commission so that workforce development specialists can provide career services to students at public high schools in designated regions, and to direct those students toward high-demand, skilled occupations experiencing existing or projected workforce shortages in Texas.

2. Senate Bill 155 – Relating to cardiac assessments of participants in extracurricular athletic activities sponsored or sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League.

Traditional physical examinations, which students undergo before participating in an athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League, are not sufficient for detecting underlying cardiac abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Studies show that sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in athletes and that competitive athletes are at higher risk. SB 155 provides a method for identifying our student athletes who are at risk for sudden cardiac death by requiring a student to receive an electrocardiogram (ECG) before the student’s participation in a UIL activity.

3. Senate Bill 156 – Relating to the state’s burden of proof in certain criminal asset forfeiture proceedings.

SB 156 raises the burden of proof from a preponderance of evidence to a clear and convincing standard the state must prove in asset forfeiture cases. The heightened legal burden placed on the state will not interfere with our law enforcement agencies’ ability to do their jobs, is an important protection for Texans’ property rights and civil liberties.

4. Senate Bill 157 – Relating to certain statutory changes to reflect same-sex marriages, including the repeal of the statutory prohibition against the recognition of a civil union or similar relationship entered into in another state between two persons of the same sex.

This legislation will repeal Texas’ unconstitutional ban on same-sex marriage. While the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision last year is now the law of the land, it is time our state constitution and laws reflect that. All Texas couples must be allowed the freedom to marry, build a family, and be treated with dignity and respect.

5. Senate Bill 158 – Relating to the creation of an open burn pit registry for certain services members and veterans.

Our goal is to create a Texas Open Burn Pit Registry to help service members, veterans, medical providers, and the VA determine the effects of exposure to open air burn pits. Much like the Agent Orange and Gulf War registries, the registry will serve as a critical tool in examining this new type of toxic exposure to help stop medical misdiagnoses that often leads to denials of benefits and financial hardships for so many veterans. This registry will also serve as an outreach tool and critical resource to veterans and their families by providing information to available programs while collecting valuable data to help understand the effects of exposure to chemicals while serving in foreign lands.

6. Senate Bill 159 – relating to excepting certain appropriations from computations regarding the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations.

As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars we need to rein in our dependence on debt by paying off our current outstanding obligations. Texas’ Constitutional Spending Limit ties our hands on our ability to pay-down our debt when we have healthy General Revenue balances and a strong Rainy Day Fund because appropriations for debt service is counted towards the constitutional spending cap. SB 159 offers a common sense approach to paying off current obligations so that we can have the flexibility to pay-down our state debt without going against the spending limit.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.
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McALLEN, TX – Today, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, the McAllen Police Department, and the Texas Department of Safety announced a finalized MOU to begin creation and operation of the Texas Transnational Intelligence Center (TTIC). The MOU signifies the collaboration of utilizing $2.4 million in funding for the TTIC as a result of a rider authored and secured in the state budget by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa last legislative session.

House Bill 11, sponsored and passed last session by Senator Hinojosa, authorized the creation of a new multiagency crime information center in the Rio Grande Valley that will be operated by local law enforcement and DPS. Rider 48 authorized the funding of $2.4 million for the operation of the center. The TTIC will serve as a central repository of real-time information related to criminal activity in the counties along the Texas-Mexico border and will operate 24 hours a day.

Senator Hinojosa highlighted the importance of the TTIC with the following comments:

“The creation of a Texas Transnational Intelligence Center is key for the Rio Grande Valley in protecting our border. Through this unique collaboration, our different branches of law enforcement can work together to gather real-time criminal activity and better monitor the Texas-Mexico border to reduce crime.

I am honored to have worked on this legislation with State Rep. Bobby Guerra and the entire Valley delegation to create the center and to have secured the funding to support its operations. The Rio Grande Valley is at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and information-sharing to ensure the safety and security of our families which is of the utmost importance.

Thank you to DPS Director Steve McCraw, Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra, and McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez for your leadership and working together to formalize the MOU.”

Each law enforcement agency in a county located along the Texas-Mexico border, a county with a federal checkpoint, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC), and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are required to report certain criminal activity to the Texas Transnational Intelligence Center such as home invasions, kidnappings, drug raids, and any suspicious activity along the border. The information reported must be made available to each law enforcement agency in Texas, as well as to TABC and TPWD.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

AUSTIN, TX- Today, at the Texas Transportation Commission (TxDOT) meeting, the Commission approved a $1.67 million grant from the Texas Mobility Fund for the Port of Corpus Christi to be used for construction of a public transportation project to widen a section of the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor in Nueces County.

This grant is being awarded pursuant to the a budget rider passed last legislative session in 2015. As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was influential in the legislature’s decision to appropriate $20 million from the Texas Mobility Fund to be allocated to provide funding for port capital improvement projects selected statewide by the Port Authority Advisory commission and approved by the Texas Transportation Commission.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa offered the following comments:

“Congratulations to the Port of Corpus Christi on approval of a $1.67 million grant from TxDOT for the improvement of the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor. This is an important project for Nueces County to be able to expand infrastructure, increase safety, and invest in our local transportation system.

I am proud to have played a significant role last session in assuring port capital improvement projects are a priority because transportation and mobility is the lifeblood of our economy.”

The expansion of the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor will add turning lanes to a new intersection and entrance road to provide access to M&G Group plant, add signage, striping, pavement, drainage, and automated rail signal/gate, as well as add additional street lights.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

PHARR – Today, the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) ISD was awarded $211,213 in grant funds from the Texas Workforce Commission’s Jobs & Education for Texas (JET) Program to buy equipment for students and support their early college programs. The JET program allocates $10 million each biennium to defray startup costs associated with the development for career and technical education programs to public community and technical colleges, and independent school districts statewide.

This is the first time high schools have been eligible for JET program funds. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa authored and passed Senate Bill 1351 last session that transferred the JET program from the Texas Comptroller to the Texas Workforce Commission to ensure the program is a priority and to bolster TWC’s capacity-building mission and prepare Texans for jobs.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Hinojosa was key in the legislature’s decision to appropriate the $10 million for the JET program as an investment in our students and our future workforce.

Senator Hinojosa made the following comments:

“It is great news that the Texas Workforce Commission granted PSJA ISD $211,213 to help our students get the skills they need to succeed.

I was proud to author SB 1351 last session to transfer the JET program to the Texas Workforce Commission and prioritize grants to teach our students essential technical skills and help put Texans back in the workforce. As the demand increases for middle-skilled jobs that require more than a high school diploma, high schools working together with community colleges fill a critical role in the effort to prepare Texans with the work skills they need to compete for higher paying jobs.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development; Criminal Justice; Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

AUSTIN, TX – Today the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) awarded state and federal funds for a capital improvement project to Jim Wells County for the Alice International Airport in the amount of up to $500,000 for engineering, design, and construction of fencing improvements. 

These funds will be used to engineer and design approximately 20,000 linear feet of new fencing for the Alice International Airport to mitigate the wildlife issues they are currently experiencing.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I am pleased that the Texas Transportation Commission has awarded $500,000 to the Alice International Airport to help alleviate concerns with surrounding wildlife. While we work to protect and support our animal wildlife, we must also have proper safety measures in place to safeguard the public and our aircraft from wildlife running onto the landing strips and causing potential accidents for our traveling passengers.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

AUSTIN, TX – Today, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved $5.4 in financial assistance for the City of Edinburg. Funding for this loan comes from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund which provides low-cost financial assistance for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of water infrastructure.

These funds will be used to finance the expansion of the City of Edinburg’s West Water Treatment Plant as well as for the planning, design and construction of the reservoir system improvements.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I applaud Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia and city commissioners for working together with the state to invest in infrastructure for the city’s future growth and provide safe drinking water to the citizens of Edinburg.

Clean water and wastewater services are essential to the development and health of our communities. The impact of this infrastructure improvement will promote economic development and safeguard against public health concerns.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

AUSTIN, TX – Yesterday, Premont Independent School District received word that state academic standards were met for the first time since 2011. The Commissioner of Education had offered an abatement to the district last December after a notice of TEA’s intent to shut it down was issued in November 2015. At that time, Premont ISD was informed its accreditation was revoked. The school district sought an informal review of the revocation. The commissioner has not issued a final response and offered to abate the review process until preliminary academic and financial accountability ratings were released.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“It is great news that Premont ISD has met student achievement and accountability standards for the first time since 2011! The primary concern is always our children and that they receive a good education. It is evident that Premont has been making the necessary changes to their system and financial structure to ensure their future success.

The entire Premont community has come together for the benefit of their students. Thank you to Superintendent Eric Ramos, the School Board, administration, teachers, and students on working together to achieve success.”

Premont ISD School Board President Michelle McCleery also commented:

“The students and staff have accomplished a monumental feat and we need to celebrate their success. But we recognize there is still work to be done and the journey is not over — Because success is always the journey.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX –  Today, Governor Greg Abbott, Senator John Cornyn, State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, and the Coastal Bend legislative delegation joined the Texas Department of Transportation and the community of Corpus Christi for an historic groundbreaking ceremony of the new Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge. The new Harbor Bridge will feature a 205 foot vertical air clearance, opening the door to larger vessels and increased economic activity to the region.

For the past ten years, as Vice Chair of Senate Finance, Senator Hinojosa has been instrumental in working with TxDOT and local stakeholders to secure funds for the Harbor Bridge which is estimated to cost over $900 million.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“With the historic groundbreaking today of the new Harbor Bridge, we are seeing over a decade of planning and development come to reality. Replacing the Harbor Bridge ensures that Corpus Christi will continue to have a striking presence and will thrive as a local and international port promising economic growth, prosperity, jobs and opportunities for years to come.

I thank our community leaders, local public officials, TxDOT, and the private sector who all had a strong commitment to this project over the past few years. The new Harbor Bridge will be considered one of the largest investments ever in our economy and will secure the Coastal Bend’s economic future and put us on the global map for international shipping and tourism.

I am honored to represent the people of South Texas and be a part of this historic project as we are literally bridging the Coastal Bend to the rest of the world and to the future.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development; Criminal Justice; Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.

AUSTIN, TX – Texas’s highly successful annual Sales Tax Holiday is scheduled this year for Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th and will offer Texans an opportunity to save millions in sales tax on clothing and various back-to-school items. With the new school year almost upon us, the timing is perfect for students of all ages to stock up on clothes and supplies.

“The back-to-school season is an excellent economic driver in Texas. Parents are looking for bargains and low prices on the supplies and clothes their children need for school, while businesses are competing for those dollars. I encourage our Texas families to take full advantage of the tax holiday and save more of your hard earned dollars by shopping during this weekend,” Senator Hinojosa stated.

Texans who shop during this weekend will not have to pay taxes on clothing, school supplies, or footwear priced under $100 and includes such items as baby clothes, diapers, and work uniforms. Items sold online as well as layaway plans also qualify. The following link to the Texas Comptroller’s webpage will provide more information and a complete list of tax-free items:

http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/taxholiday/d/index.html

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Sunset Advisory Commission.